New Arcade Bar Opens in Former Broadway Home of Swift's Steakhouse

The bar and restaurant space at 8 South Broadway hasn't seen much stability since Swift's Steakhouse #4, which lasted for fifty years under multiple owners, closed. In the eight years since then, the space has been Ismini's Grill, Authentic Greek Food, the South Broadway Deli and Broadway Bar & Bites. The draw seemed to dwindle with each name change, until things came to a dead stop last fall.

But a new owner has taken over and given the bar a new look and new reasons to stop by. Bobby Derian, who owns the Skyline Pub at 2045 Sheridan Boulevard in Edgewater, just opened Players Pub in December,  bringing in an array of arcade games and a menu of bar bites with a boozy twist.

Derian says most of the games are social and interactive, from Pop-A-Shot and Skee-Ball to Mario Kart and giant Pac-Man. Even some of the bar specials have a gaming aspect, since you can roll the dice to choose your drink price on Wednesday nights. High scores on some of the games are tracked, and the leaders can win food and drink prizes on specific nights.

On the food side, wings, burgers and sandwiches dominate, many of which can be kicked up with sauces boozy enough that there's a 21-and-over warning on the menu. Players Pub makes its own infused vodkas in a range of flavors and uses some of them in sauces. So you could order a pickle- or peach-infused shot, then get your wings with sriracha-pickle or peach-habanero sauce. Other vodka infusions include Skittles, Warheads, melon-mint and berry-basil, all resting in jars behind the bar so you can see the fruit and other ingredients soaking in vodka.

Players Pub is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Call 303-777-1747 or visit the bar's Facebook page for other details and specials.